22" chrome wheel leaks

[homesick]

I have a 2007 Escalade with the OEM 22" chrome wheels. The front left tire keeps leaking down. So far, two different shops have failed to fix it.

The second shop blamed the factory wheels, and put a sealant on the bead. He said it might not work, and it hasn't.

So, any ideas for a solution?

joe

 

[Blackcar]

Have them break tire down and look around wheel where tire bead mounts.
I had one that chrome plating in that area was flaking which let air seep thru. I cleaned that area by breaking chrome flaking area off and sanding smooth.
To make sure that where leak is coming from lay wheel and tire flat on ground put soap solution around rim and air valve check for bubbling then turn over and check back of wheel.
It might be leaking of wheel because of porosity but I doubt it.

 

[homesick]

Have them break tire down and look around wheel where tire bead mounts.
I had one that chrome plating in that area was flaking which let air seep thru. I cleaned that area by breaking chrome flaking area off and sanding smooth.
To make sure that where leak is coming from lay wheel and tire flat on ground put soap solution around rim and air valve check for bubbling then turn over and check back of wheel.
It might be leaking of wheel because of porosity but I doubt it.

Your 'flaking' theory matches what I've read, so far. Actually, I read that it's an issue for ALL chrome plated wheels, but I've never heard of it before.

Your other idea is simple and sensible, thanks.

joe

 

[Stbentoak]

Older chrome rims are notorious for getting pinholes in them. Most people just buy new aftermarket rims and move on.. they are pretty well unfixable... Had same problem on a 2004 Infiniti Q 35

 

[homesick]

Older chrome rims are notorious for getting pinholes in them. Most people just buy new aftermarket rims and move on.. they are pretty well unfixable... Had same problem on a 2004 Infiniti Q 35

NOW you tell me. Thanks.

joe

 

[GMCChevy]

You can usually use a wire wheel in a drill to clean up really bad rims. There are also tubes for radial tires I had to use them on one of my cars but I don't know if there are issues with them in wheels that big.
If the tires are old Sometimes that can also affect the bead sealing.

 

[homesick]

You can usually use a wire wheel in a drill to clean up really bad rims. There are also tubes for radial tires I had to use them on one of my cars but I don't know if there are issues with them in wheels that big.
If the tires are old Sometimes that can also affect the bead sealing.

Potholes in my memory again. I meant to ask about tubes, and forgot. Thanks.

The tires are Goodyear Eagles, with only 2000-3000 miles on them. I've had this issue since I bought them. The other three have no leaking. The tire seller was the first shop to fail the repair.

Oddly, the rate of leakage seems to vary. It once went months without leaking down. It once went -flat- overnight.

Do any of y'all know whether these wheels are steel or aluminum, under the chrome?

joe

 

[Stbentoak]

Steel.. pitted and slowly corroding steel....

 

[Blackcar]

Potholes in my memory again. I meant to ask about tubes, and forgot. Thanks.

The tires are Goodyear Eagles, with only 2000-3000 miles on them. I've had this issue since I bought them. The other three have no leaking. The tire seller was the first shop to fail the repair.

Oddly, the rate of leakage seems to vary. It once went months without leaking down. It once went -flat- overnight.

Do any of y'all know whether these wheels are steel or aluminum, under the chrome?

joe

If you could show picture of wheel front back might be able to tell material made of.

 

[GMCChevy]

If they're the factory ones they're not steel.

 

[solli5pack]

I had the same problem for the longest. Tire shop pulled the tire and sanded down the lip and glued it up with some black rtv looking paste. Two months so far so good.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I have a 2007 Escalade with the OEM 22" chrome wheels. The front left tire keeps leaking down. So far, two different shops have failed to fix it.

The second shop blamed the factory wheels, and put a sealant on the bead. He said it might not work, and it hasn't.

So, any ideas for a solution?

joe

I've had this issue with my 20" rims. The rim's bead area needs to be cleaned and smoothed out with a rotary air tool with a very mild abrasive wheel on it. This will take some time, so the Tech needs to be committed and not time pressured to work faster by his boss. Once FULLY smooth, then a good bead adhesive needs to be applied to both the rim and the tire before re-assembly.

No guarantees, of course, but it worked for my when I found a shop that would let the Tech take the time to do it properly.

 

[Blackcar]

I had the same problem for the longest. Tire shop pulled the tire and sanded down the lip and glued it up with some black rtv looking paste. Two months so far so good.

View attachment 454764

Those are exact same wheels on my Yukon that had chrome flaking on bead area.

 

[homesick]

Pulling the wheel and wrestling it around is not a good idea for me, any more. My mind's not the only part of me with rusting hinges.

Nobody's mentioned tubes. I've always heard that tubes in radials are bad, but I've never heard a reason.

joe

 

[homesick]

Nobody has anything on tubes?

joe

 

[GMCChevy]

I mentioned tubes the other day. There are tubes specifically for radial tires and there's usually no problems using them but I don't know about tires that big.

 

[homesick]

I know you mentioned them. I'm looking for knowledge about their use with radials, since the common idea seems to be "don't".

Thanks though.

joe

 

[petethepug]

The 22’s on our 09 Esky are doing the same. Indi shop cured it with applying tire bead seal goop.

Steelman Tire Rim Bead Sealer for Tubeless Tires, 1 Quart

Amazon.com

 

[homesick]

The 22’s on our 09 Esky are doing the same. Indi shop cured it with applying tire bead seal goop.

Steelman Tire Rim Bead Sealer for Tubeless Tires, 1 Quart

Amazon.com

I don't know the product brand, but the 2nd shop to attempt repair used a bead sealant. He told me success was gonna be a 50/50 deal. The tire was down 5-6 pounds last week, about 2 weeks after his repair.

I'll save your link. Thanks.

joe

 

[Coveman]

We used to use tubes as a last resort type repair and they worked fine. Problem nowadays is the tpms sensor bolts to the rim and tubes have their own stem.